“We have to go blow for blow.”

Roma boss Claudio Ranieri assessed the situation with regards to the players’ level of confidence ahead of the match against Tottenham.

In an interview with Rome TVRanieri said, “We know where we went wrong against Napoli and what we need to do to improve. Only work can pay us back in the end.”

“It’s like a sick person in intensive care. You have to give them oxygen, strength, self-esteem, which is what the boys have lost.”

“I didn’t mind the match against Napoli, we didn’t play as quickly as I asked. I spoke to them about it and I think they understood me.”

“It’s a different approach to what they were used to doing in recent years, we have to continue to have faith and fight.”

“We’re going to play against a team that is first in the Premier League for intensity of pressing, chances created and goals scored, they have players who have crazy speed.”

“We’ll go there with desire and if we’re smart we’ll know how to create big problems for them, otherwise we have to be like the boxer: stay there covered because otherwise they’ll hurt us too much. We have to respond blow for blow.”

“We know what kind of team we are facing, we go there with our heads held high to play our game. We have to get out of it and we will only be able to do it with our intelligence and our desire.”